From 9 to 5: HONOR's Giovanna Randall

Last week, New Yorker's For Children, a non-profit organization that partners with the Administration for Children's Services to improve the lives of children in foster care in New York City, threw a party with Honor's Giovanna Randall. We asked the designer, who will show her third collection in September, to document the busy day.

8:00 AM
I'm up, I'm up! Waking up is hard when you're a perpetual insomniac like me. My husband Eric softens the blow by serving me a homemade skim latte in bed. He's the best. I drink my caffeine, and snuggle with Oscalina, our adorable three-legged cat. I start checking my HONOR email, and then the hourly weather forecast. I love the weather forecast, because it's the closest think we have to predicting the future. It's going to actually feel like spring today! I make a bowl of plain Grapenuts with raspberries and almonds, and remember last night's eerie dream. My dream inspires a few new sketches for Spring 2012. I suddenly realize I'm almost out of time.

9:00 AM

I race to get ready for an autumn/winter production fitting at the HONOR studio. I throw on my all-over printed sheer blouse and shorts from spring with a structured Alexander McQueen belt. I run for the door. Eric hasn't yet left for his office in Soho, and we actually both get to walk to work through Washington Square Park together for the first time ever.

10:00 AM
The HONOR studio is buzzing with my cheerful bunch. We start an AW production fitting... Things are working well. I try on a pair of my worsted cashmere pants. Delicious! I can't wait until it's cold enough to wear them, even though it's finally warm in New York. I wear the pants for the rest of the fitting.

12:30 PM
Fitting is over. I meet with Associate Designer Sara Sakanaka to re-cap fitting notes and talk about changes, followed by Director of Creative Development (Rachel Fleit) and Chief Merchandising Officer (Stacey DiPersia).

2:00 PM
I interview a potential Associate Designer. She is absolutely lovely. I start thinking about how she can best help me, and plan a trial project for her. We invite her to the party tonight.

Photo: Wowe

3:00 PM
Rachel and Stacey are thrilled that I'm finally meeting with another potential contributor to the HONOR studio. She's going to be in charge of fabrics—if I love her as much as they do—and I do! We talk about all of the things I want to do with fabric that I haven't had the time to do thus far. I can't wait to start working with her. I hope she accepts our offer...

4:00 PM
Stacey and I finalize pre-spring as I eat my favorite salad from Grey Dog cafe. I'm finally (mostly) satisfied with what's going in the store, now that I'm excited about my direction for spring 2012. I race home to meet the amazing Ramie Roth and we decide what to do with my hair for the store launch party. I want to wear my barely mint, crepe "house dress," and favorite Lanvin cutout heels. I dream of making shoes like these for HONOR. I'm inspired by Sara Larson's vintage look from this morning. She had her hair pinned up in waves under a scarf, in anticipation for the party tonight. Ramie and I decide to add a piece of raspberry fabric to my hair, to complete the girly, "welcome to my home" look I'm going for, reminiscent of the 1960s. She coifs the mane while I play with my makeup.

6:00 PM
I'm ready to head over to the HONOR store. Eric and I grab a cab, and I fight back the irrational fear that I'm in 5th grade again, and my best friends can't make it to my (read, rite of passage) sleepover party. The cab driver gets lost a little and we end up walking a few blocks on cobblestones. Kind of silly, but kind of fun with heels on.

A look from Honor's AW11 collection. Photo: Imaxtree

6:30 PM
We arrive at the HONOR store. It's looking lovelier than ever because it's filled with so many lovely people. The New Yorkers for Children ladies are all looking amazing wearing HONOR. I'm so grateful to be able to share this event with them. The room is filled with new and familiar faces. Alexandra Richards is looking angelic in my white sequined bolero and long unbuttoned-up-to-there skirt at the DJ booth. She came directly here from Turks and Caicos to fill the party with the perfect mix of music. I finally get to meet a lot of wonderful people I've been working with in person, as my publicist, Cindy Krupp whisks me around, making introductions.

8:00 PM
The event is nearly over, but I'm happy to see that everyone is making themselves comfortable. This is exactly what the HONOR store is about, cozy and inviting, yet entirely luxurious. I grab a tasty French macaron (courtesy of Silkstone) and dance with Jesse James' (of Aesthetic Movement) amazing little girl, Olympia. Frida Torresblanco and her husband Marc are chatting it up with Eric's parents on the little couch near the window.

10:00 PM
Most everyone has gone home, and I lounge around, shoes off with my HONOR ladies (and a few lovely boys).

11:00 PM
Eric and I sit down for a late dinner at the French Roast with my parents. I order the macaroni and cheese, among other things. I never can resist a great macaroni and cheese.

12:00 AM
My parents head home, and Eric and I cozy up in bed with Oscalina. He doses off, and I stay up sketching, dreaming of spring and AW12.

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